Folding bed or couch

ABSTRACT

378,851. Settee-bedsteads. FICHTENBAUM, O., 17, Menahan Street, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. April 13, 1931, No. 10840. Convention date, July 14, 1930. [Class 52 (ii).] In a couch convertible into a bed, the folding mattress frame comprises alternate wide and narrow sections A .. D, a pivotal connection 25 is provided between the section B and the seat frame 26, and a plate 50, secured to the section B and extending across the pivot 14, carries one end of a link 31 pivoted to one end of the lever 28 connecting the frames 26 and A. Parallel links 18, 19 may be provided to carry the section C. The inner end of the section D may carry rollers 34 engaging curved guides 35.

Nov. 1, 1932. o. FICHTENBAUM FOLDING BLED on qoucn Original Filed July 14. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

Nov..1, 1932. o. FICHTENBAUM ,88

FOLDING BED OR COUCH Original Filed July 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 054w? ficw au/54 BYJLL7W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OSCAR FICHTENBAUM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO "JOSEPH P. FICHTEN- BAUM AND HARRY FICHTENBAUM, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK FOLDING BED OR COUCH Application filed July 14, 1930, Serial No. 467,945. Renewed June 4, 1932.

This invention is an improvement in folding beds or couches, and more particularly in the type of such devices commonly known as davenports.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of a simple, strong and durable structure, of a foldable nature, en-

abling it to be quickly and easily converted into a bed, or a couch.

Another object is the provision of a construction wherein the parts are so arranged, that when extended, a bed structure will be provided sufficiently long to enable sleeping at right angles to the length of the davenport, and wherein the arrangement is such that all the parts may be folded compactly into the body of the couch when not desired for use as a bed.

Another object is the provision of a back for the couch, so mounted that it may be swung into operative or inoperative position, and will be so retained, without extraneous assistance.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view with the bed unfolded;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section transverse to the length of the davenport, and longitudinal of the extended bed;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing the first step in the folding operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3, with the parts folded Fig. 5 is a section on the ure 3;

In the present embodiment of the invens tion, which is an improvement over my prior Patent No. 1,626,801, granted May 3, 1927, and over my application, Serial No. 448,113, filed April 28, 1930, the main frame of the line 5-5 of Fig couch, bed or davenport, comprises end.

pieces 1, having the usual upholstery indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, and connected by a paneled back frame 2.

The frame also includes a front or baseboard 3-, which is connected with the end pieces 1 by means of angle plates 4, (Figure 5), each having one part secured to the front board, and another part extendingat right angles thereto, and adapted to lap on the inner face of the end piece. This last-named 'part is longitudinally slotted as shown at 5,

and is adapted to be engaged by a hook bracket 6 on the endpiece 1. It will be apparent from the description and drawings that the base-board may be disengaged from the end pieces by lifting the respective ends thereof to disengagethe hook brackets from the angle plates. This enables quick and easy detachment of the front board when desired.

The folding bed structure is composed of four sections, two relatively wide sections indicated'generally at A and C, and two rela tively narrow sections indicated generally at B and D, the relatively narrow sect-ions alter'nating with the relatively wide sections. Each section consists of end angle bars as shown in Figure 1, connected by the mattress structure. The end bars of the section A are indicated at 7, those of the section B at 8, of the section C at 9, and of the section D at 10. The adjacent ends of the bars 7,

8, 9 and 10 are pivotally connected, as indi-' cated at 14.

The outer ends of the bars 7 of the sec manner that they will hold the foot plate in either position.

The section C is swingably supported by pairs of parallel links 18 and 19, a pair at each end of the section. The members of each pair are pivotallyconnected to brackets 20 on the adjacent bar 9, and to platesend piece.

21, detachabllg connected with the adjacent ach plate 21 has a horizontal notch at one end, which engages a headed stud secured to the end piece 1, and at the other a vertical notch which slips over a threaded stud 23 on the angle-plate 4 before mentioned. A wing nut engages the stud, and by means of the nuts the plates may be clamped in place on the end piece, or they may be disengaged by loosening the nut, lifting the vertical end of the plate and moving it horizontally to disengage the stud 22 Th d of the link 18 are extended above the end bars 9 of the section C, and angle members 24 connect the ends of the links with the end pieces 8 of section B, as shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3. A U-shaped hollow rod 25 is pivoted to the undersides of the end bars 8 of section B, and to a frame 26 at one side thereof, the other side of the frame being provided with legs 27. This frame is adapted to rest upon the floor, as shown in Figure 2, when the couch structure is unfolded.- The frame is connected to the end bars 7 of the section A by means of the levers 28 at the ends of the frames. Each lever is pivoted to an end bar 7 intermediate its ends, asv indicated at 29, and to the end of the frame at oneend, as indicated at 30. A link 31 connects the other end of the lever with a plate 50 which is riveted to the bar 8, at 51 and through whicltthe pivot 14 between bars 7 and 8 passes. The lever 31 is pivotally connected at 52 to the plate 50 so that as section A is swung upwardly around pivot 14 the lever 31 pivots around 52 at a point remote from 14. By this ar-. rangement the frame 26 is properly disposed in horizontal position within the sofa when the parts are folded and the levers 31 and 28 are relativelydisposed for free movement to either folded or unfolded position.

The swinging outward of the links 18 and 19 is limited to a position where they are substantially perpendicular by brackets 32 on the end bars 9 of section C. These brackets are in position to engage the links 18 when they are upright, and the swinging of the links is aided by coil springs 33 arranged between the links 19 and the plates 21. When the parts are in'the position of Figure 3, these springs are under tension, so that they assist not only in the opening of the bed structure, but in the closin of the same. The end bars 10 of the section have rollers 34 at the ends remote from the end bars 9, and these rollers move-in curved guides 35 secured to the end piece 1 of the davenport.

The arrangement is such that when the bed structure is unfolded, the rollers 34 are at the lower ends of the curved guides, the convexit of the guides being adjacent the paneled ack frame 2. When the bed structure begins to fold, and reaches the position of Figure 3, the rollers are in the vertical por-' tions of the guides, it bein understood that the guides are so arrange that each has a substantiall horizontal and a substantially vertical portion connected by an arc-shaped portion. When the folding structure drops down into. the davenport frame as shown in Figure 4, the rollers again roll down 'to near the lower ends of the guides. Coil springs 36 are secured at one end. between the lugs 36 on end bars 10 of section D and a bracket 36' on the end bars 9 of the section C. The said springs assist in the opening of the bed-structure, being placed under tension when the structure is fully folded. It will be noted that the guides 35 have flat surfaces against which the rollers 34 operate and that there is no obstruction to upward movement of the section D so that this section can be freely swungv back over section C on the pivot 14 to give access to the back of the couch for cleaning. The springs 36 will flex as the part D is sw'ung upwardl and backwardlyover If there is a bin ing at the pivot 14 between C and D the upward movement of the rollers 34 on the ment 0 the parts would be prevented unless the rollers 34 could move away from the guides 35. In other words, if there is any indmg at 14 as the frame is pushed back, the rollers 34 will rise away from the guide 35 and permit movement of the parts during which the rollers 34 will again engage the guide 35 at some point for downward movement thereon.

An angle plate'37 is secured to each of the links 18, in position such that when the parts arefully folded as shown in Figure 4, the endba-rs 9 of the section C will rest upon the angle portions of the brackets as shown in Figure 4. The upholstered back 38 of the ides 35 will be obstructed and movedavenport, comprises an upholstered frame as indlcated, and is connected to the paneled frame 2 by means of a pair of links 39 and 40 at each end. Each link is pivoted to an extension 41 on the frame 2, and to a similar extension 42 on the seat back. frame. This mounting enables the back to swing into the position of Figure 2, when the bed structure is unfolded, or inposition of Figure 4 when it is completely folded.

The links 39 are connected by a cross-rod 43, and springs 44 are arranged between each link 39 and the adjacent extension 41. The springs are put under tension when the back is swung downwardly (Fig. 4), and they assist in lifting the back to the position of Figure 2. A cross-plate 45, usually of the same material as the panel frame 2, and the seat backframe 8, is arranged transversely of the top of the frame 38, and with it plane inclined to the plane of the frame, as shown.

the plate .45 will rest upon the upper edge of the top of the panel frame 2. Angle plates 46 are connected with the ends of the crossplate 45, and are so positioned thatwhen the seat back is swung down to the position in Figure 4, the horizontal portions of the brackets will rest upon the upper edges of the respective end pieces.

It will be noticed referring to Figure 4, that the frame 26 folds with the section A, and down upon the section, with the lever 28 and the link 31 almost in alinement, and with the side rail, which is adjacent to the foot board 3 when the bed structure is unfolded, resting upon the upper edge of the foot board. It will be understood that this frame 26 carries upholstery, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4, and forms the seat of the davenport when parts are folded.

To fold the bed structure when the parts are in position of Figure 2, the foot plate 15 is first folded over upon the section A. The rod 12 is grasped, and the section is pushed toward the panel frame 2. The rollers 34: run up the curved guides, and the sections A, B and C move inward, swinging on the links 18 and 19. The section A is then swung over above section C, the section B occupying almost a vertical position. The back 38 is then swung down in the position of Figure 4.

To unfold, the back is lifted to the position of Figure 3. The body of the U-shaped rod 25 is grasped, and the section C is swung up in the position of Figure 3. Afterwards the sections A and B may be unfolded, as indicated in Figure 3. It will be noticed, referring to Figure 3, that angle bars 50 are arranged between the section B and the frame 26, being pivoted to the section B and to the frame. These bars and the levers 28 connect the seat frame 26 to the sections A and B of the bed structure.

\Vhat is claimed as new is:

l. A folding bed or couch, comprising a couch structure including a seat frame, a mattress frame composed of alternating relatively narrow and relatively wide sections pivoted together to occupy a common plane or to fold with the relatively wide sections substantially parallel and the relatively narrow sections substantially perpendicular thereto, a pivotal connection between said seat frame and the outermost relatively narrow section, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said seat frame and intermediate its ends to said outermost relatively wide section, a plate secured to said outermost relatively narrow section and extending across the pivot between said section and the outermost relatively wide section, and a link connected at one end to said plate beyond the 'most section into the same frame to fold upon the outermost relatively wide section at substantially a right angle to .the relatively narrow section.

2. A folding bed or couch, comprising a couch structure, a mattress composed of alternating narrow and relatively wide sections pivoted together to occupy a common seat frame and intermediate its ends to said outermost relatively wide section, a plate secured to said outermost relatively narrow section and extending across the pivot between said section and the outermost relatively wide section, and a link connected at one end to said plate beyond the pivot between the outermost relatively wide and outermost relatively narrow sections and to the end of said lever to enable said seat frame to fold upon the outermost relatively wide section at substantially a right angle to the relatively narrow section.

3. In a folding bed or couch, a couch structure, a mattress frame comprising a plurality of sections pivoted together to fold into the couch structure and to unfold into extended position to occupy a common plane, means for supporting the outermost sections in said plane, plates on the couch structure having a curved open faced surface, the lower ends of said plates being disposed in substantially the plane of the extended mattress frame and extending toward said frame, rollers at the inner ends of the innermost section to contact said plates during folding and unfolding of the couch and to rest on said lower ends in both open and closed positions of the couch, said rollers and innermost section being freely swingable away from said plates during folding movement of the frame and when the frame is in unfolded position, and a spring connected to said innermost section and the adjacent section to urge said innerplane as the adj acent section.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 10th day of July, A. D. 1930.

1 OSCAR FIGHTENBAUM.

pivot between the outermost relatively wide and outermost relatively narrow sections and to the end of said lever to enable said seat 

